Texas (6-6) vs. Missouri (7-5)
December 27, 8 p.m.
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About Texas
It hasn’t been the perfect, immediate turnaround coach Tom Herman and the Longhorns were looking for this season, but the program still managed to get back to a bowl game after a two-year absence. While it wasn’t fast start Texas fans hoped they would see, the Longhorns have a chance to enter Year 2 with some momentum. The team signed one of the top recruiting classes in the nation during the early signing period and will now be in search of its first bowl win since 2012. Texas lost the final game of the regular season in heartbreaking fashion to Texas Tech and now faces the challenge of taking on one of the hottest teams in the country. The Longhorns have struggled offensively, most notably on the offensive line, as the team is averaging less than 30 points per game. The defense is one of the best in the Big 12 under Todd Orlando though, giving up an average of less than 22 points.
About Missouri
Like Texas, Missouri hasn’t appeared in a bowl game since the 2013 season when they took home a win in the Citrus Bowl under former head coach Gary Pinkel. The Tigers got off to a horrendous start under Barry Odom this season, losing five of their first six games before really turning things around. Missouri has won its last six games in dominant fashion, outscoring teams by an average of 30 points in those contests. The turnaround has centered around the offense, as the Tigers have been explosive behind the duo of QB Drew Lock (3,695 43 TDs) and WR J’Mon Moore (1,017 yards, 10 TDs). Offensive coordinator Josh Huepel took the job at UCF so it will be interesting to see how the offense responds to his departure in the postseason.
Players to Watch
QB Shane Buechele (Texas) – Buechele has battled injuries all year but it looks as though he is in line to start for the Longhorns in the Texas Bowl. With as much as the offensive line and run game have struggled, Buechele will have to make a lot of big plays for Texas to have a chance of keeping up with Missouri. He’s thrown for 1,350 yards and six touchdowns this season while being sacked 22 times.
QB Drew Lock (Missouri) – While Buechele is important for the Longhorns, Lock is the far and away the most important player for Missouri – especially with Huepel out of the picture as the team’s play caller for the bowl game. Lock leads the nation in passing touchdowns (43) and was a first-team all-SEC QB after leading the conference with 3,695 passing yards.
Are you a Texas football fan hoping to attend your favorite team’s bowl game, or simply catch the nearest one nearby? Get your tickets here:
- Dec 16: Troy vs. North Texas
- Dec 20: Louisiana Tech vs. SMU
- Dec 23: Texas Tech vs. USF
- Dec 24: Fresno St. vs. Houston
- Dec 27: Texas vs. Missouri
- Dec 28: Stanford vs. TCU
- Dec 29: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest
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